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Northrop P-61C Black Widow project

After a bunch of travel I finally got a chance to install your wonderful F-15 Reporter, so I'm really psyched to see the P-61 is next!

On the panel, I fly with VR goggles most of the time, so I'm definitely a fan of the modeled instruments as the flat ones look like an animated cartoon when viewed in VR. But I won't be picky!

And the RF-8 after that? Awesome! Have you read Crusader: Last of the Gunfighters? There's an awesome story in there about a recon run during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
 
DC1973 said:
Just asking a question of folks here regarding the Reporter's VC ( upon which the P-61C's VC will be based ): include instrument bezels, or not? They look fab, but there does seem to be an appetite for users to switch the gauges out for others and this can be tricky if the new gauges have dials and knobs that protrude or are obscured by neighbouring bezels.

I'm modelling these aircraft as freeware for the community so I'm happy to go with the flow. What would folks prefer?
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Thanks for you contributions; great stuff! :)

I prefer a mix on the gauges because most of my projects have lots of them; too many to do 3D gauges on all.

So, my approach preference is shown here on my current project.

I do 3D Cages and Bezels lifted just off the background panel. (No cuts to the panel background surface)
The circular back of the bezel I detach for the gauge face which is mapped separately for simple Panel Studio gauge size and placement of 2D gauges.

The cages and bezels are textured as one part.

See the examples in attachments.

So, for those who like to swap gauges, it's a simple matter.
 

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Milton Shupe said:
Thanks for you contributions; great stuff! :)

I prefer a mix on the gauges because most of my projects have lots of them; too many to do 3D gauges on all.

So, my approach preference is shown here on my current project.
Click to expand...

Thanks Milton, your approach does seem to be a good compromise. I think on the Reporter it was inexperience on my part - some of the gauges I put too closely together, whereas others are fine - like my old teachers used to say, I should have paid closer attention :)

I think I'll follow your example and make sure that anything with protruding knobs ( such as altimeter, artificial horizon etc ) get the full 3D treatment, the rest just bezels for the surrounds - that way folks should be able to switch things out any way they want.
 
DC1973 said:
........I think I'll follow your example and make sure that anything with protruding knobs ( such as altimeter, artificial horizon etc ) get the full 3D treatment, the rest just bezels for the surrounds - that way folks should be able to switch things out any way they want.
Click to expand...

When appropriate can you share what you see as the P-61C panel layout..?
Thanks...
 
The P-61C cockpit looked like this;

attachment.php


I'll be altering the existing Reporter VC to match in terms of general layout, and of course will include both the gunner and radar operator positions. My version probably won't look quite as "busy" as the real thing.
 

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A little different from the P-61B but not too much. I have to chuckle over the radar screen being removed because itwas classified when this was taken. it looks really busy yues, but actually, its laid out logically enough that its very easy to manage.. Trust me on that ::LOL::..
 
Seahawk72s said:
Is there a picture showing the instructions..?
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I looked at over a dozen shots of P-61 cockpits and while that one pic obviously has it. . .I didn't find any others that showed that placard. Possibly placed there during early testing until the cause was corrected. . .then removed from future versions?
 
FIRE
1 Shut off
fuel
2 Feather
Propellor
3 Cut ignition
4 Switch on
Extinguisher
5 Do not start
Engine again

According to the manual.
 
Well, whatever else might be said about the Northrop Black Widow, they got the name right. This is one mean looking beastie! I'm not going to be able to complete this one without making sure those guns work with TacPack... :devilish:

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One more shot from Prepar3D v4. Model showing up nicely, no major differences from the FSX test.

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DC1973 said:
Well, whatever else might be said about the Northrop Black Widow, they got the name right. This is one mean looking beastie! I'm not going to be able to complete this one without making sure those guns work with TacPack... :devilish:

attachment.php
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WOW!! I dare say this looks even better than the Reporter. The reflections and rivets on the black bird are fantastic!
 
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